Evaluation of the Corrosivity of Smoke from Fire Retarded Products

A laboratory radiant combustion/exposure apparatus was used to evaluate the corrosion of copper test probes due to smoke from burning polymers. This apparatus is under consideration by an ASTM task group for development of a standard test procedure for corrosive properties of smoke. The brief test series was conducted with several different fire-retarded polymers and non-fire retarded polymers, and comprised the use of two different heat flux fire exposures and the option of adding moisture to the atmosphere. Recommen dations are presented for further test programs to improve upon the proposed standard test methodology.